Council tax up by 3.3 per cent in district council budget

Part of homeowners’ council tax will rise by more than three per cent this year after Warwick District Council’s executive approved its budget for 2017/18.

Following a meeting held last week, the district council will increase its share of council tax by 3.3 per cent overall - the equivalent of £5 more a year for a Band D home.

This is the maximum the council can raise it without a referendum.

The total charge for a Band D home will be £156.86, with Band A homes at £104.57 and Band H homes at £313.72. The rise is expected to bring in an extra £390,000, and the money will go towards services such as rubbish collection and recycling, council houses and leisure centres.

Alongside the rise in council tax, the district council is continuing with its ‘Fit for the Future’ programme, which aims to find ways to cut its expenditure over the next few years.

These include outsourcing the management of council-owned leisure centres such as Newbold Comyn and St Nicholas Park, along with the council moving to a smaller headquarters.

But the council still needs to find savings worth £830,000 by the 2021/22 financial year.

The council’s portfolio holder for finance Cllr Peter Whiting said: “I pay tribute to both officers and councillors in continuing to maintain and improve our service offering with only a moderate increase in council tax.

“Being in a stable position for 2017/18 means that we can continue to bring a high level of service to our customers and invest in projects which will benefit the community.”

The news follows Warwickshire County Council’s acceptance of a council budget that raised its part of council tax by four per cent.

Both the 2017/18 Budget and Council Tax decisions will be put for approval by Full Council on Wednesday 22 February.